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What are Standard Mylar Bag Thicknesses? Choose Right One

 2025-02-12 07:15:16

Standard Mylar Bag Thicknesses

Choosing the right thickness for mylar bags can change the game for businesses when it comes to perfect packaging solutions. Mylar bags are available in different sizes and thicknesses for various reasons. By selecting the right thickness for mylar bags, your business not only enhances the unboxing experience but also boosts profitability. 

In this blog, we have covered in detail what are the standard thicknesses for mylar bags. Read on to learn how to choose the right thickness with valuable considerations for your business to choose the best packaging solution. 

What is a Mylar Bag?

Before diving right into what are standard thicknesses of mylar bags, first consider their packaging material. Understanding this helps you to better decide the right type of thickness for these bags. Mylar bags have several plastic lamination layers (PET) alongside exceptional oxygen absorbers. 

With this packaging, products remain in pristine and excellent storage condition. So, many beverage and food businesses prefer custom mylar bags due to their flexible packaging solutions to protect their products during shipping. 

Apart from the food industries, mylar bags are used in agriculture, cannabis, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and gardening industries. Now, explore how businesses can measure the thickness of mylar bags. 

How to Measure Thickness of Mylar Bags?

How to measure thickness of mylar bags

The measurement of thickness for mylar bags is a bit daunting and a tricky process. Because these bag’s thickness depends on the quantity of food and other products. Also, mylar bag sizes relies on your product dimensions. 

When it comes to measuring the right thickness, mylar bags are measured in milliliters (mil). A mil of a mylar bag is equivalent to one thousand (1000th) part of an inch. But the question is how a mylar bag should be thick enough to store food and other desired products. Let’s dive into that:

What are Suitable Standard Thicknesses for Mylar Bags

Consider the standard mylar thickness because some products should be packed in this thickness to meet product and customer needs. Align this thickness with the packaging size of your products to experience the best outcome at both ends.

Generally, a thicker mylar bag is an ideal choice if your brand is looking to store food for a longer time. This way, you provide exceptional protective properties from harsh external conditions such as moisture and shipping jerks. So, a thicker mylar bag enhances the shelf life of packed products compared to thinner mylar bags. 

For short-size products, Mylar bags for food storage with a thickness of 3.5 mil-4.5 mil are ideal for packing basic food items. However, long-size products require a thickness of 4.5 mil-6.5 mil. For long-term food storage, thicker Mylar bags for food storage in the range of 6.5 mil-7 mil offer superior insulation against external elements.

Because mylar bags having thicknesses below 4.5 mils don’t offer barrier properties. Keep in mind if you desire the inside product to last longer, then opt for 7 mil mylar bags. Mylar bags below 4.5 mil don’t have barrier properties.

Remember, if you’re comfortable with a thicker bag, whatever’s inside will last longer. Here are standard thicknesses for mylar bags suitable for different product packaging:
 

3.5 mil Thick Mylar Bags
 

This is the minimum thickness your business can use to sell short-size products. 3.5 mil thick mylar bags are suitable for packaging basic food items, dry foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. If you want to choose the most budget-friendly option, 3.5 mil thick mylar bags are good to go.
 

4 mil Thick Mylar Bags
 

1-quart or 4-mil thick mylar bags are ideal for packing flour, beans, sugar, and salt. They may seem very thin in appearance but light can pass through them. It shows that 4 mil bags do not have the potential to absorb the sunlight. 

5 mil Thick Mylar Bags


In contrast to 4 mils thick mylar bags, 5 mils bags have high protection against harsh environmental conditions. If you are looking for a storage bag to store dry food items, pasta, and rice longer, these bags serve best. But here’s the catch: these bags are fragile and can tear because of traveling tinctures.
 

7 mil Thick Mylar Bags

Using 7 mils thick mylar bags for the utmost and long-standing conservation of food items like beef jerky and whole beans. These bags are absolutely opaque and don’t let UV light or air enter the bag to destroy the inside product. 7 mil thick mylar bags can withstand scratches, jerks, and punctures.

Why Does Thickness of Mylar Bags Matter?

Why Does Thickness of Mylar Bags Matter?

Most businesses underestimate the mylar thickness. But it is the most crucial factor that plays a role in the overall worth of a product and increases its shelf life. 

Thinner mylar bags are more vulnerable to puncture damage and don’t have significant barrier properties against light, moisture, and air. However, thicker mylar bags (more suitably 7 mil) have great protective properties to keep the product safe for long-term storage. 

Here are some things to consider when it comes to choosing thicker mylar bags for your products: 

High-Level Protection

Thicker bags provide a barrier against oxygen, moisture, and light, which can degrade stored food over time. These bags don’t allow UV light to enter due to aluminum foiling.
 

Enhanced Durability

A thicker mylar bag is less likely to wear and tear, especially when handling and shipping items with sharp edges. 

Long-Term Storage

Cost Considerations

Thicker mylar bags are perfect while meeting the criteria of protection, durability, and long-term storage. But these bags are comparatively more expensive than thicker bags. 

Mylar Bags Thickness Based on Food Type and Storage Time

Mylar Bags Thickness Based on Food Type and Storage Time

 

As we have discussed above, thick mylar bags serve as a rule of thumb to keep products fresh and safe for a long time. In the market, two standard thicknesses for mylar bags are common: 4 mil and 7 mil.

  • Small bags of 4 mils thickness are suitable options for travel-size bags. However, retail brands can confidently pack food items like flour, sugar, or salt in 4 mil mylar bags. 
  • 7 mil mylar bag wins the race as the more appropriate thickness option for long-term storage of food like pasta, beef jerky, or granola. They are immune to punctures and scratches.
     

How to Choose the Right Thickness of Mylar Bags?

The right packaging thickness needs to be aligned with your product needs to showcase your bespoke brand image. When deciding the thickness of a mylar bag, there are no hard and fast rules for which thickness works best for which products. 

Some products work better in long-term storage with thicker bags. For instance, pasta like macaroni will be better with 7 mil thickness. However, food items like flour, grains, beans, and spices are fine to pack inside a 5 mil thick bag.

Keep in mind the best thickness for long-term food storage is a minimum of 5 mil mylar bags. To choose the right thickness of mylar bag, know your product, its nature, and size. Also, keep in mind how long you want to keep your product fresh and pristine in the mylar bag packaging. 

If you want to store and preserve products for a short time, 3.5 mil – 4.5 mil thick mylar bags are ideal. On the other hand, if you want to store products for years, mylar bags with thickness ranges between 5-7.5 mil are an ideal choice. 

Wrap Up 

The demand for mylar bags and pouches is increasing among customers with each passing day. To meet and exceed the expectations of customers, businesses can customize mylar bags in versatile options. Customizing mylar bags with the right thickness plays a very significant role in enhancing customer experience. 

So customize your mylar bag with thickness according to product needs, nature, and sizes. Choosing the right thickness protects products for a longer time. Contact us today to get mylar bags with the desired thickness. Get the best thickness for your mylar bag to preserve your food for a long time while preserving aroma and flavor.